Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-01
Loss OF THE EAGLE.
She Either Burst Her Boilers OF
was Wrecked ON the Reefs.

was wrecked on the lGee1S.
ST. JOHN, N. F., March 3l.--A report
has reached here OF the total loss of the
Hg steamer Eagle with crew Of $50
II en- } the shoals near Funk Island, off
l. vista bay. No particulars of the
disaster are yet at hand.
Debris, consisting of deck ladders,
forecastle deck and cooking gear, with
the steamers name on it, has been found
on the ice. Tne supposition Is that the
steamers boiler exploded.
The Inhabitants OF Funk Island are on
the lookout for the bodies OF the
drowned. Most OF the lost seamen lived
in and about st. John, and the excite
ment and grief here are intense. Women
and children are weeping at home or
paper offices for further information.
A LARGE BOAT.
The Eagle was large sailing steamer
commanded by Capt. Jackman, and
owned by Messrs, Bowring Bros. The
Captain is one of the best and most sue
cessful commanders sailing out of New
foundlaud ports, but it is said that the
steamers boilers were in such condition
that she should never have sailed. This
was whispered about soon after she sailed
for the fisheries, and the report that the
wreokage indicates a boiler explosion is
taken as evidence that all ON board are
lost.
A TERRIBLE SEA RUNNING.
BOSTON, March 31.-A special from st.
John, N. F., says: The steamer Eagle
was last seen by the steamer Aurora on
the night OF March IL, near Funk
Island. A terrible sea was running at
the time. The next morning the Aurora
conld find no trace of the Eagle, and MOTH
ing has been seen of the ill-tated vessel
since. A message from Greycupond,
about 100 miles from here, says that light
house keeper Cabot had boarded the seal
ing steamers Vanguard and Hector. Both
those vessels reported passing spars,
forecastle and the name board Eagle
near the spot where she was last seen." b
THE THEORY.
Lighthouse. keeper Cabot is a reliable
man, and from his knowledge of affairs
there, and the fact that the Eagle has not
been seen since the fleet have been spoken,
it is universally believed that the vessel,
with her 260 souls on board, was driven
on the terrible reefs so numerous In-
side Funk Island; that the
sea broke her up, and that
she probably sank Immediately with
her 50 seamen on Geek and 2I0 seal fishers
below. The sea that swept the coast that
the Oldest seaIers on board the other YES
sels.. No ship once getting in those ter
rlble breakers could possibly escape.
Capt. Jackman, commander OF the ILL
fated vessel, was considered the bravest
skipper Newfoundland ever produced.
KING OF THE SEALING FLEET.
He was called "The King of the Sealing
Fleet" until 1885, when for the first time
in his experience be failed 10 secure any
seals. Last year bad luck again overlook
him and he lost the steamer ResOlute
near the same fatal Funk Island, but all
his crew were saved.
Later the samc season he took COM
mand of the Eagle and within a few
weeks she broke her shaft. She was re-
fitted and month ago started with the
rest OF the feet on what is now felt was
her last voyage. The exact number Of
men on board is unknown, but it is be-
lieved to be at least 260. A majority of the
crew are married and reside in this city
and vicinity, and all are in the prime of
life. The city is in mourning to-day.
This is the greatest calamity and most
frightful loss of life in the modern history
of this unfortunate colony.